* Lack of Records: Many languages were spoken by small, isolated groups who left no written records. We simply don't have evidence of their existence.
* Continuous Evolution: Languages are constantly evolving. Over time, languages can split into new languages, merge with others, or disappear entirely. Determining when one language becomes another is subjective.
* Defining "Language": What constitutes a distinct language vs. a dialect is a complex issue with no clear-cut answer.
However, we can estimate:
* Estimated Number of Living Languages: There are currently around 7,000 living languages spoken today.
* Extinct Languages: Experts believe there were likely many more languages in the past that have since become extinct. Some estimates suggest there could be hundreds of thousands of extinct languages.
In Conclusion: The number of languages that have ever existed is unknown, but likely much larger than the number of languages spoken today. The vast majority of these languages have disappeared without leaving a trace.